Did you hear the story about Daniel in the Lion’s Den? You have? Well, this one may be a bit different.
You see, there was this other guy named Daniel. Like any red blooded young man, this Daniel began to think about, and talk about, and look at, GIRLS! Throughout his junior and senior high school years, nothing quite piqued his interest like GIRLS!
Of course he’d heard the story of the birds and the bees; quite fascinating, to say the least. Wonder and curiosity kept building inside his mind until, one day, there it was. Something that erased the wonder and satisfied his curiosity. A picture of a young woman, wearing nothing more than a smile.
There’s an old saying that goes something like this: curiosity killed the cat. But really, that isn’t true. While the cat stayed curious, it was okay. When it decided to put an end to its curiosity, that’s when it was done in.
Young Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes! And he LOVED the feelings he was having inside his mind. What he didn’t realize was, that he was soon to be hooked on those particular feelings. Nothing would matter to him as much as those feelings.
Something else would eventually happen to young Daniel. The feelings he once experienced just by looking at pictures of nude women, weren’t so easy to produce. Now, for the same feelings, it required much more explicit, and graphic material. The addiction was demanding more and more “food”, while giving less and less in return.
What was once a wonder and a curiosity, now had become a taskmaster; and Daniel was its slave. His relationships, his finances, his “free” time, all had to obey the monster called sexual addiction.
Such a far cry from God’s perspective of sex.
God never intended for sex to rule, or ruin, any individual! He never desired to see His creativity cheapened and degraded to where it’s used to market everything from toothpaste to automobiles. God’s intent was, and is, for sex to be a beautiful and fulfilling part of intimacy.
Daniel didn’t know it, but sex is NOT intimacy. Sex is sex. Intimacy CAN include sex, but only when other intimate pieces are in place. Things like truth, tenderness, and timing all contribute to true intimacy. When a husband and wife are so committed to the other’s well being and happiness, then the act of sex can add to the intimate RELATIONSHIP.
But poor, young Daniel. He’s trapped inside the Lion’s Den.
There is a way out, however.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT)
There is always a door leading to the Lion’s Den. Think about it.
No matter if your name is Daniel, George, James, or Sinbad the Sailor; if you stay away from the door, you can’t go in! If you are already in, there’s a door that leads back to the outside!
Deliverance begins with a desire to be free, and then calls for genuine repentance.
Turning around and facing the opposite direction is repentance. Trusting Jesus for the strength to do the right thing is called smart! Developing a godly relationship, based on truth, with a friend (of the same sex) is called safety. And giving a friend the freedom to speak honestly with you, even when it hurts, is called wisdom!
Yes, God CAN deliver every single Daniel out of any and every Lion’s Den.
But too many Daniels are being devoured.
How are YOU doing?
By the way, I realize Danielle’s can be slaves to the same monster who controls Daniels. And the way out is the same for them.
Be free in Jesus’ power!
Jan Grace 